Air-to-air missiles first saw action in September 1958, fired from North American F-86 Sabres of the Taiwan-based Chinese Nationalist Air Force, against MiG fighters of the Chinese communist forces. For the next decade, the AAM largely displaced the gun, but later experience showed that the gun was still an essential air-to-air weapon.

Limited wars between 1965 and 1973 gave an opportunity for post-war jet fighters and fighter armament to be tested. The Indo-Pakistan conflict in 1965, for example, saw PAF Sabres shot down by IAF Gnats (on photo) but the Pakistani F-86F Sabres had little opportunity to use their Sidewinders.

Limited wars between 1965 and 1973 gave an opportunity for post-war jet fighters and fighter armament to be tested. The Indo-Pakistan conflict in 1965, for example, saw PAF Sabres shot down by IAF Gnats but the Pakistani F-86F Sabres had little opportunity to use their Sidewinders.

"Фантом" ВВС ИзраиляGun-equipped F-4E Phantom IIs were in service with the Israeli Air Force in time for the 1969/70 War of Attrition. Fuel is venting from this Sidewinder-equipped example as it makes a tight turn in afterburner.